The former Chelsea boss played down the depth of his so-called crisis.

However, ahead of Wednesday night's Champions League encounter with Manchester United at the Bernabeu Stadium, Mourinho said a return to England was on the agenda.

"Are you worried with my crisis? I am not," he said.

"But I will go back to England after Real Madrid. We will see (when that is).

"I love everything (about England). England will be my next step."

Mourinho has been heavily linked with Manchester City and Chelsea recently.

It has also been felt he would be of interest to Manchester United, even though club ambassador Peter Schmeichel has said the former Porto coach is not under consideration.

Mourinho doesn't see himself being installed at Old Trafford either, mainly because he expects Ferguson to continue for a good while yet.

"No," he said, when asked if he could replace Ferguson.

"I don't believe so.

"I think we have to end our career at the same time. Him at 90 and me at 70."

The mischievous grin that accompanied the words underlined the playful nature of Mourinho's character that still exists, despite the simmering unease with which he dealt with so many questions that came from the Spanish press.

"'Daddy' is smiling," said midfielder Michael Essien, who clearly holds Mourinho in great affection, having followed him to Spain from Chelsea.

"He is always happy. I have never seen him sad."

Nevertheless, Mourinho is under immense pressure to win this tie, which he believes "the whole world is watching".

For, with the La Liga title on its way to Barcelona, it is hard to see Mourinho surviving much longer if he fails in the quest to land a record 10th Champions League crown for Real.

"There are great clubs in the world who have never won this competition," he said.

"Real Madrid have won nine, I have won two. Real Madrid wants to win its tenth. I want my third.

"If it comes this year good. If not, I will try again next year.

"I don't think I will end my career with only two titles."

Even Mourinho accepts the championship he fought so hard to wrest from Barcelona's control is heading back to the Nou Camp this season.

Yet he insists that does not mean beating United is beyond his Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired team.

"It is easy to play against big opponents and big teams," he said.

"We are finding it harder to play against smaller opponents, against whom we have lost so many points.

"We were in a very difficult Champions League group, with Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund, and we knew from day one we could be out. We had to play at top level to finish first or second.

"This is the history of our team and tomorrow is the biggest opponent."

However, there is no escaping his fractious relationship with those who follow Madrid's fortunes so closely, and the lack of understanding for his plight, as he pointed out when asked to comment on the Spanish newspaper depiction of Wayne Rooney as a "hooligan" on Tuesday morning.

"I didn't read it," said Mourinho.

"I don't know if it was written in that context, calling him a hooligan, or completely different.

"But if I can say one thing on behalf of Rooney, I was called worse than that, week by week."